BRIAN GLEESON RETURNS TO BENCH AS IRELAND U20S TAKE ON GEORGIA

The Ireland U20s have rung the changes ahead of their second Junior World Cup clash against Georgia at Stellenbosch's Danie Craven Stadium on Thursday (1.0).

Fresh after hammering Italy in their Cape Town opener last weekend, Ireland U20s head coach Willie Faloon has freshened up his side to take on a Georgia outfit, who were beaten by Italy.

There is a welcome return from injury for Munster’s outstanding young back-row Brian Gleeson, who has been named on the bench.

Ben O’Connor continues at full-back, with debutant Reuben Molony joining Davy Colbert in the back-three.

Hat-trick hero Sam Berman has a new centre partner in Hugh Gavin, while Sean Naughton is handed a start at out-half, with Oliver Coffey at scrum-half.

Jacob Boyd, Stephen Smyth and Andrew Sparrow make up the front-row, with James McKillop coming into the second-row to partner captain Evan O'Connell. The back-row of Sean Edogbo, Max Flynn and Luke Murphy remains unchanged.

Hooker Mikey Yarr is in line for his debut off the bench, as he joins Emmet Calvey, Patreece Bell, Alan Spicer and Gleeson as the forward replacements, with Tadhg Brophy, Jack Murphy and Finn Treacy providing back-line cover.

Ireland U20s (v Georgia on Thursday): B O’Connor; D Colbert, S Berman, H Gavin, R Moloney*; S Naughton, O Coffey; J Boyd, S Smyth, A Sparrow; J McKillop, E O’Connell (capt); S Edogbo, M Flynn, L Murphy. Reps: M Yarr*, E Calvey, P Bell, A Spicer, B Gleeson, T Brophy, J Murphy, F Treacy.

*Denotes uncapped at Ireland U-20s level

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2024-07-02T13:12:04Z dg43tfdfdgfd